Adaptive Lacrosse

We believe lacrosse is for everyone, including participants with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Everyone should have the opportunity to play lacrosse and feel included, accepted, and valued regardless of their ability or disability. Some athletes with disabilities can and do participate in “mainstream” lacrosse programs at all levels of play. For many others, it is beneficial to participate in a modified version of the game that is designed specifically for the inclusion, safety, and enjoyment of people with disabilities. This is Adaptive Lacrosse!

“The goal of any adaptive lacrosse program is to give athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities an enjoyable lacrosse experience that is active, exciting, and most of all, fun.”

Adaptive Lacrosse Guidelines

The purpose of this guidebook is to help local lacrosse organizations start their own adaptive lacrosse programming. The strategies highlighted here have been gathered from leading disability sport organizations as well as experienced adaptive lacrosse coaches and program administrators.

Adaptive Guidelines Increasing Opportunities

Mentors Program

The Adaptive Lacrosse Mentor Group was created to provide resources and support to both new and existing adaptive lacrosse coaches and administrators who are working to make the game more accessible to athletes with disabilities..

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Wheelchair Lacrosse

Our friends at Wheelchair Lacrosse USA (WLUSA) serve as the governing body of wheelchair lacrosse in the United States and help to provide participation opportunities for physically challenged athletes. Since 2009, WLUSA has helped grow over a dozen programs nationwide. Wheelchair lacrosse is played on a roller hockey rink or box lacrosse pad, using a no-bounce ball and basketball chairs.

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Ways to Play

Adaptive & Inclusive Lacrosse

Adaptive and Inclusive Lacrosse is designed to include players with a wide variety of disabilities in a station-based or small-sided game format. Any athlete with a disability may participate with appropriate support. This format is typically played on a solid surface to allow athletes who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices to participate as independently as possible.

Unified Lacrosse

Unified Lacrosse is designed to allow athletes with disabilities to play alongside their non-disabled peers. This format is often played by athletes with cognitive or developmental disabilities in a small-sided game format using modified rules. These programs often follow a model that is very similar to Special Olympics Unified Sports.

Impairment-Specific Lacrosse

Impairment-specific formats are designed to allow athletes with similar disabilities to participate alongside and against each other. Some examples of impairment-specific formats include programs for athletes with amputations/limb differences, vision impairments, and hearing impairments.

Mainstream Formats

Athletes with disabilities can and do participate in typical or “mainstream” formats of lacrosse at all levels of play—from youth to the pros. Anyone with the desire and ability to play a mainstream format of lacrosse with reasonable accommodations should be allowed to do so.